wtf is rapid onset gender dysphoria?

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A quick note before we get started, this episode contains lots of discussion of transphobic rhetoric, and references to eating disorders and self harm. As always, please take care of yourselves friends <3

When I came out, I had a strategy. The idea was to start close and sort of widen the circle. I told those closest to me and most likely to support me first, and I told them in person. I slowly widened that circle of in person conversations. Over the course of dinner and movie dates, and eventually phone conversations and text messages, the circle got wider. I was lucky. My friends and most of my family were almost universally supportive. Aside from expressing their love and support, there was one other sentiment I heard over and over again. People were surprised. I wore the man suit well. I ticked most of the man stereotype boxes. Giant manly beard, metal band, band t-shirts, gym shorts, lack of personal hygiene, and so on.

The closet metaphor exists for a reason. From a young age we’re taught that being different in the way we’re different is not okay. Its both explicit and implicit. Even if we don’t have the vocabulary, its something most of us just know. The closet is dark, and its scary, but sometimes its safer than the alternative. Some of us very carefully curate our personal lives and interactions with others to erase every outward hint of our queerness or our trans ness. Its a self defense and survival mechanism. That being the case, I feel like its safe to say that EVERYONE’S coming out is going to be a surprise to at least SOME of the folks in our lives.

This week we’re going to talk about a study and a group of people who have apparently forgotten this is a thing altogether.

I was scrolling through Twitter a few weeks ago and ran across an article from some shitty conservative news rag I’m not going to name because I don’t want them to get the views. The title made my stomach turn. “Is Transgender the new anorexia? New study suggests so.”

The fuck is this nonsense?

This new study is called “Rapid-onset gender dysphoria in adolescents and young adults: A study of parental reports”

Hmmm Rapid onset gender dysphoria. It certainly sounds science-y right? And there’s a study about it. Seems legit. So what is it?